Recommendations on 2001 Front End Damage

[eric66]

Hello - First post and problems already. My daughter ran off the road into some trees yesterday going to school. She's fine thank God, but our wonderful Corolla is very damaged. All of it is centered in the front driver area, and since towing it home there are no leaks, starts well, steering seems fine, and the AC works. The car has just over 118K on the clock and is otherwise very clean. But, at best it's worth $4K on Craigslist. I'd very much like to get it fixed but it would be an out-of-pocket deal, and really may not be worth it. With the help of these pictures, can someone maybe give me a rough ballpark non-dealer figure on the cost of getting this roadworthy again? Thanks Much!

[eric66]

Gonna try again on these images, hope this attempt works - Thanks

[liensalebuyer]

you have to find a shop where some of the employees do work on the side, but quality may not be top notch, you have the car back. Thank goodness your daughter is ok.

[zuzu_]

Originally Posted by eric66

As long as there's no joint/axle damage (to the steering), it seems doable. HummerH2O summed it up pretty well.

[zuzu_]

Originally Posted by hummerh2o

shitll buff out!

@ 2:55

You Tube

You Tube

"They'll be able to buff this out, no problem."

[eric66]

Thanks guys - This is great stuff! On the steering issue...Gawd this is gonna be an amateur embarrassing description; on the drivers side I can see a type of CV? joint coming from, or going into, a gearbox? with the rubber cover pulled away/off. With the engine running we get good tire movement with the steering wheel but also a grinding squeal like the power steering fluid is low...And very recently I had the entire steering gear replaced at nearly $800!!..The rest is tin and bolts...Maybe I should put it on a type of trailer to get a mechanic to look at it for an estimate? Thanks again

[fishexpo101]

Ouch!! look like a pretty decent hit there. Glad to her that she is OK.

I'd also look closely at the transaxle and engine subframe - if there is significant damage (fine cracks in the transaxle case and any distortion of the metal on the subframe) - probably come out ahead parting out the car and buying another one.

My Matrix got hit by an SUV in the same corner as your car - but no damage to the axle and subframe - even parts at cost and labor ($40/hr) came close to $1500.

Definitely have them measure the body - if it needs to be pulled at all - I'd look into getting something else. Even when straightened out - the car may never drive the same way again.

[eric66]

Thanks, and I'll bet that's the reality...Hard to tell for sure, but looking at both front sides it appears the damaged side wheel is 'back' farther than the undamaged one...Which is very bad news. Guessing today it's going on Ebay and Craigslist. My daughter's safe, lesson learned, best to take the dollar hit and move on. Thanks and enjoy!

[liensalebuyer]

yes, looks like the left axle is bent just by the picture. I'm not a body shop person, I'm say take off some good parts and look for another rolla. Again, glad your daughter is ok.

[eric66]

Finally got back on this early today. I took off the tire and got a far better and depressing view of the damage. You can see the broken strut? at the bottom, and the gear? with the grease and torn rubber boot can be pulled out away from the housing easily by pulling on the connecting rod leading to it.....So I'm probably looking at much more than the car is worth I'm guessing. Dang, there's so much good left on the car, engine etc...If it's in fact 'dead', how do you market something like this? And from the experts here, what would be a reasonable price? Thanks much!

[Crowbar911]

Hard for me to judge from this angle, but your sway bar endlink may be busted as well.

[DjiNN]

even if you get that fixed. I'd probably say price is around 1,000 to 1,500 to fix that area + parts. The car will not drive the same.